Former minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, who recently just declared his intention of running for the Governorship position in Kaduna, come 2015 has fired back at Pastor Oritsejafor for daring to say himself and APC spokesman, Lai Mohammed were only trying to tarnish his image when they called him out concerning a private jet which was recently impounded in South Africa over suspicion of arms smuggling.
El-Rufai described the CAN president as an “irresponsible” leader and asked him to come out and tell Nigerians may be the same impounded jet was the one ‘donated’ to him in 2012. He also said he should clarify if the jet was actually registered as a commercial aircraft or the aircraft serves as both private and commercial one. Lol, I just think El-Rufai is always the wrong person to fight with. Read the full statement here; His words were heavy though.
A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and senior member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasir El-Rufai, on Wednesday described the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Ayo Oritsejafor, as an “irresponsible” leader who has abused his revered office by venturing into politics.
Mr. El-Rufai was reacting to a statement by CAN Tuesday berating the former minister and the spokesperson of the APC, Lai Mohammed, over their responses to reports that a private jet recently impounded in South Africa over suspicion of arms smuggling, belongs to the CAN president. In the statement, CAN accused the two APC stalwarts of tarnishing the image of Mr. Ortisejafor. CAN also said Mr. El-Rufai had once said there are three sets of Boko Haram in Nigeria: “Islamic Boko Haram, Politicians’ Boko Haram and Christians’ Boko Haram which he said are being funded by President Goodluck Jonathan and coordinated by CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. He went further to claim that the CAN President has been given N50 billion by the President and a Jet”.
In his response Wednesday, Mr. El Rufai said the CAN president is becoming “jittery” because his private jet was identified as the vessel impounded by the South African authorities for ferrying $9.3m cash into their country. Mr. El-Rufai also said after being unable to shake off his connection to the plane, Mr. Oritsejafor has resorted to abuse and vilification. “Were he more reflective, he would be pondering how, of all the private jets available in Nigeria, it was his that came to be involved in a covert arms purchase scandal. “Would he have managed any objectivity if the plane involved happened to belong to a prominent person of another faith or political persuasion,” a statement signed by Mr. El Rufai’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adekeye, said. Mr. El-Rufai also said the CAN President should explain if the jet involved in the scandal is the same one that was “donated” to him in 2012.
“Did he register it as a commercial aircraft or is the plane illegally moonlighting as one? Has he ever reflected on the impropriety of mixing his religious role with politics? “Having strayed into politics, and an irresponsible variant at that, can he expect the veneration enjoyed by his predecessors such as Cardinals Olubunmi Okogie and John Onaiyekan? “Why is he the first CAN leader to provoke pitiful mirth and amusement when he is not being derided as a tragedy, a sort of Ichabod, desperate to separate glory from a revered body?” Mr. El-Rufai said.
He also advised Mr. Oritsejafor to “look beyond the bling to ask himself if it was any of the individuals he abused yesterday that asked him to make his aircraft available for monkey business, or get himself involved in the politics of division”.
